Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Opinion - Guest Columnists

Opinion: On economic development, Tennesseans should ask themselves, ‘Why not Japan?’

opinion@dailymemphian.com (Andrew McDermott) — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 10:41:45 -0500

“Japan has long been a friend in adversity, investing in Memphis amid political and racial turmoil 50 years ago when it became our first Memphis in May guest.”

Opinion: MATA’s shame is a national shame

mosleycarter@aol.com (Johnnie Mosley) — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 13:27:20 -0500

“No more excuses. No more fairy tales. No more treating bus riders as pieces on a chessboard. MATA must comply with the city charter and treat bus riders with dignity and respect.”

Opinion: 'Judge Coffee, release Andrew Hayes'

opinion@dailymemphian.com (William E. Arnold Jr.) — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 04:00:08 -0500

“The true measure of a justice system is not whether it can claim perfection. It is whether the justice system has the courage to correct itself when it discovers that it failed.”

Opinion: Jesse Huseth on affordability, education and costs in District 97

opinion@dailymemphian.com (Jesse Huseth) — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 09:06:28 -0500

“I am running for Tennessee State House District 97 because I refuse to accept that our state should rank last when it matters most: for our children, our loved ones, and our working families.”

Opinion: Memphis is moving forward. Why are some so angry about it?

covington.john@gmail.com (John Covington) — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 09:05:58 -0500

“Crime is falling. Investment is surging. The tax base is expanding. Memphis has spent years demanding progress. Now that it’s finally happening, results should matter more than partisan grievance.”

Opinion: Rep. Gillespie on his support of the task force and MSCS takeover

opinion@dailymemphian.com (John Gillespie) — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 09:07:21 -0500

Tennessee House Rep. John Gillespie advocates for his reelection to Tennessee House District 97, including highlighting his support of the Memphis Safe Task Force and the takeover of Memphis Shelby County Schools.

Opinion: To fix Memphis mass transit, MATA board members need to get on the bus

opinion@dailymemphian.com (Barry A. Ford Sr.) — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 04:00:02 -0500

“The new MATA board reveals a glaring disconnect. With one exception, they are almost entirely corporate executives and administrators who likely do not use the system they oversee.”

Opinion: Now is not the time to let up on gun crime

wgibbons@memphis.edu (Bill Gibbons) — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:00:02 -0500

“Frankly, we have a long way to go to be as safe as we need to be.”

Opinion: Germantown Community Library celebrates ‘The Great Gatsby’ turning 100

opinion@dailymemphian.com (Donal Harris) — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 04:00:04 -0500

The Germantown Library is celebrating the anniversary with a community “Big Read” and other events centered on the book.

Maxey: Balancing the horror — and the inevitable good things — on Sept. 11

rmaxey@dailymemphian.com (Ron Maxey) — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 04:00:04 -0500

“Everyone above a certain age has memories of the day, of where they were and what they were doing. It was one of those iconic days in history that we knew instinctively — even as it was happening — would stand out and be recalled among the many other days that would make up the story of our lifetimes.”

Opinion: Calling partisanship racism doesn’t make it so

covington.john@gmail.com (John Covington) — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 08:57:31 -0500

John Covington says, “Beyond the incendiary rhetoric, the facts are straightforward: Tennessee Republicans wanted another Republican seat – and said so plainly.”

Opinion: 'Steve Cohen has served Memphis extraordinarily well'

morriss@churchhealth.org (G. Scott Morris) — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 09:06:05 -0500

“I haven’t agreed with Cohen on everything. I don’t imagine many people have. But agreement isn’t the standard by which a lifetime of public service should be measured. Service is.”

Opinion: ‘Ain’t gonna let nobody … turn my Grizzlies around’

trusthoward@gmail.com (Howard Robertson ) — Fri, 4 Sep 2026 04:00:12 -0500

“I’m tired of conspiracy theories about moving the Grizzlies out of Memphis. Not from any true insider have I heard that the intention is to move our team anywhere, especially to Nashville. Wrong sport.”

Opinion: Tennessee has never waited for history to happen

opinion@dailymemphian.com (Erin Hafkenschiel) — Thu, 3 Sep 2026 04:00:07 -0500

“Tennessee’s biggest challenges are deeply connected. Housing affects access to education. Transportation determines access to jobs. Childcare influences workforce participation. Energy shapes our economic competitiveness.”

Opinion: MLGW on why Memphis’ water future is secure

opinion@dailymemphian.com (Doug McGowen) — Tue, 1 Sep 2026 17:14:52 -0500

“Thanks to natural recharge zones and our local reduction in demand, our water system is sustainably replenishing itself. But we cannot afford to become complacent.”

Opinion: Transparency shouldn’t stop at the DA’s door

covington.john@gmail.com (John Covington) — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 04:00:14 -0500

“If a serious charge generated through the Memphis Safe Task Force is not prosecuted, citizens have a legitimate interest in knowing what happened. That is not an attack on prosecutors. It is accountability.”

Opinion: Making bail more expensive and unattainable violates human rights

editor@dailymemphian.com (Luke Tankersley) — Tue, 1 Sep 2026 13:24:41 -0500

“Advocating against the Anti-Bail Fund Legislation is not to stand for the release of convicted felons, but rather to stand and say that the legislation is flawed at its core.”

Maxey: 'Your algorithms need to get off my lawn and leave the old man in peace'

rmaxey@dailymemphian.com (Ron Maxey) — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:00:13 -0500

“There’s a more serious dialogue to be had over the inter-generational bickering so prevalent these days. Largely fueled by social media, generations seem to be increasingly antagonistic toward one another over society’s ills and who’s to blame.”

Opinion: MSCS retains status quo while Houston schools defy the odds

rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov (Mark White) — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:00:13 -0500

“It’s time for Shelby County government, including the new mayor-elect and county commissioners-elect, to exit their lawsuit against the MSCS oversight board and get to work rebuilding opportunity for Memphis students.”

Opinion: The disparity in public grace extended to different Collierville officials is stark

editor@dailymemphian.com (Jennifer Preston) — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:07:56 -0500

“Communities thrive on open, civic dialogue, but our leaders also deserve fairness, basic decency, and residents who debate policy instead of tearing down character.”